Pre-Departure Information

PILGRIM'S WAY Table of Contents

TRAVEL INFORMATION Passport Visas Money Tipping Special Diets Communications Electricity

MEDICAL INFORMATION Inoculations Staying Healthy

HELPFUL INFORMATION Photography Being a Considerate Traveler Words and Phrases

PACKING LIST The Essentials WT Gear Store Luggage Notes on Clothing Clothing Equipment Personal First Aid Supplies Optional Items

READING LIST Essential Reading Also Recommended Reminders Before You Go

WELCOME!

We’re delighted to welcome you on this adventure! This booklet is designed to guide you in the practical details for preparing for your trip. As you read, if any questions come to mind, feel free to give us a call or send us an email—we’re here to help.

PLEASE SEND US

Trip Application: Complete, sign, and return your Trip Application form as soon as possible if you have not already done so. Medical Form: Complete, sign, and return your Medical Form as soon as possible if you have not already done so. Air Schedule: Please forward a copy of your email confirmation, which shows your exact flight arrival and departure times. Refer to the Arrival & Departure section of the Detailed Itinerary for instructions. Please feel free to review your proposed schedule with Wilderness Travel before purchasing your tickets if you have any questions about the timing of your arrival and departure flights or would like to confirm we have the required minimum number of participants to operate the trip. Vaccination Card: Please send us a photo or scanned copy of your completed Covid-19 Vaccination Card if you have not already done so. Just the front side of the card is sufficient.

PLEASE CAREFULLY REVIEW

Travel Documents & Medical Information: Carefully review the Travel Documents and Medical Information sections of this booklet to familiarize yourself with Passport and Visa entry requirements for your destination, as well as any recommended inoculations. Optional Travel Insurance: Review the Trip Cancellation & Transfer Fee Schedule included in the Detailed Itinerary. We recommend that all trip members purchase Travel Insurance. Extra Services: Request any Extra Services (hotel nights, transfers, extensions) with your WT office contact using the Extra Services Request Form sent with your confirmation packet. Final Documents: Approximately three weeks before your trip, we will send you final departure documents, including hotel and local contact information and rendezvous instructions.

QUESTIONS?

Call: 1-800-368-2794, go to our website (www.wildernesstravel.com) or e-mail us at: [email protected]. Travel Information

PASSPORT

A valid passport is required for your trip. Be sure to check the expiration date. Your passport must be valid for three months after your date of exit from Spain. In addition, we recommend your passport have at least two completely blank visa pages for every country you will be visiting. It is very important that the blank pages say “Visas” at the top. The last few pages of your passport, which say “Amendments and Endorsements,” and the final page of your passport, which may not have a page number, are not considered to be legitimate visa pages. The service of adding pages for visas was discontinued as of January 1, 2016. You can request a new passport through US Passport Services Office (http://travel.state.gov/passport) or use a visa service agency, which can take care of your passport renewal and expedite the process, if needed. We recommend Passport Visas Express (http://www.passportvisasexpress.com/?affId=2120). Be sure to allow sufficient time to acquire this before your trip.

It is a good idea to carry photocopies of your passport’s photo page and any acquired visa pages for your trip (if applicable) in case your passport is lost or as an additional piece of identification, as well as two extra passport photos.

VISAS

US citizens do not need a visa for countries visited on this trip. If you are a citizen of any country other than the US, check with a local consulate for entry requirements.

MONEY

The Euro is the official currency of Spain. The most convenient way to obtain Euros is to use your debit card at ATMs. If you plan to get cash this way, it’s wise to get a list of ATM locations in advance online or from your bank. To use an ATM internationally, you must have a four-digit PIN. Traveler's checks are very difficult to cash since banks are few and far between on this trip, so please do not bring them. Major credit cards are accepted in most shops in cities and larger towns. If you plan to use your credit cards, inform your credit card company before your departure that you will be using the card abroad.

You will need to budget spending money for gratuities, meals not included, international and domestic airport departure taxes, and personal items such as beverages. Dinner in a mid-range restaurant can easily cost $40-50.

TIPPING

Tipping is completely discretionary, but over the years, clients have asked us for tipping guidelines to reward guides for outstanding service. A range of reference would be $90-110 USD per trip member for each Trip Leader, which can be given in US dollars or local currency. The Trip Leader takes care of gratuities for luggage handling, waiters at restaurants, and local guides and drivers who may be with the group for only a short time. SPECIAL DIETS

We will do our best to accommodate special dietary needs, however, please keep in mind that certain cultural differences or limitations due to logistics can make it extremely difficult and at times impossible to accommodate dietary restrictions. Please inform us at least eight weeks before your trip if you have a restricted diet. It is important to bring a flexible attitude and supplemental snacks.

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone The international dialing code for Spain is 34. Please contact your cell phone company for specific instructions for international use.

Email & Internet Access Internet access is available at most of our hotels, but connections may be spotty or unreliable.

ELECTRICITY

Europe has 220-volt current. Plugs usually have two or three prongs. Medical Information

The following recommendations should be used as a guideline only; consult your physician for medical advice. It is vital that you let Wilderness Travel know of any medical problems, allergies, or physical limitations you may have. Please fill out and return the personal medical questionnaire, and feel free to consult us if you have any questions about your ability to undertake this particular trip.

Wilderness Travel is not a medical facility and has no expertise or responsibility regarding what medications or inoculations you and your physician decide are necessary for your safe participation in the trip.

Traveler's health information is available from the Centers for Disease Control. (http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm) Medical travel products are available from Travel Health Medicine (http://www.travmed.com) and from Magellan's Travel Supplies. (http://www.magellans.com)

INOCULATIONS

No inoculations are required. However, it is easy to get a small cut, so a tetanus booster is strongly recommended (good for 10 years). If you take prescription medicines, be sure to bring enough for the duration of your trip.

STAYING HEALTHY

You can reduce your risk of getting a cold on the trip by washing your hands often and not touching your face with unwashed hands. If you arrive on the trip with a cold or feel the symptoms of a cold, avoid close contact with others and move away from people before coughing or sneezing. The CDC recommends coughing or sneezing into a tissue or into the crook of your elbow or upper sleeve, not your hands. Helpful Information

PHOTOGRAPHY

Camera Recommendations With the many advances in digital technology, a simple compact digital camera or even your smartphone is capable of taking pictures suitable for the needs of most people. For higher quality images and the ability to use long lenses for closer wildlife pictures, a DSLR camera is well worthwhile, though heavier. Most digital cameras and phones have good video options, but you may want to consider a GoPro for a lightweight, waterproof option. Always practice ahead of time with new equipment and bring your manual with you. Camera equipment is available for rent from Borrow Lenses (https://www.borrowlenses.com/discount/wildernesstravel), with a 10% discount offered to Wilderness Travel clients. This is an especially good idea for renting large zoom lenses that you may need for just one trip.

Camera Accessories We recommend bringing at least two large capacity memory cards or a small digital storage unit (or tablet) to back up your photos, freeing space on your memory cards. Don’t forget to bring a battery charger and a backup battery so one is always charged and ready to use. For trips where you may be away from power sources for multiple days, consider looking into a solar-powered battery charger or buying additional backup batteries, and check that you have the appropriate adapter for the electrical outlets in your destination.

Sharing Your Images We would love for you to share photos from your trip, and with your permission, may even use your photos in our marketing materials or on our photo blog. We request that you send us a small sample of your best images. Please email your photos to [email protected] or tag us @WildernessTravel on social media.

Photography Etiquette When taking pictures of local people, be aware of cultural considerations. Approaching people with a warm smile and using polite gestures or simple phrases to ask permission to photograph them usually works well. It is always recommended to engage people in conversation before asking to photograph them, but if people do not wish to have their photo taken, please honor their requests. We urge travelers to avoid giving money in exchange for photo opportunities, which makes it harder for future travelers to have a meaningful personal interaction with local people. Please always heed your Trip Leader’s guidelines for what is appropriate.

BEING A CONSIDERATE TRAVELER

Please show respect for the cultures we are visiting by observing local customs concerning appropriate dress, particularly in sacred places. Your Trip Leader is always available to answer any questions that you may have regarding this. If it is necessary to use a cell phone during the trip, please do so privately. Smoking is rarely an issue these days, but if you do smoke, please do so only away from the group.

WORDS AND PHRASES

It is always fun (and appreciated by locals) when you try to use a few words in Spanish. yes/no sí/no BEVERAGES thanks very much muchas gracias mineral water agua mineral thanks, same to you gracias, igualmente coffee/tea café/te you’re welcome por nada with milk con leche please por favor real lemonade limonada hello hola carbonated soft gaseosa drinks good morning buenos días orange juice naranja good evening buenas tardes apple juice manzana good night buenas noches bananas plantanos goodbye adios beer cerveza bye! chao! red wine vino tinto see you later hasta luego white wine vino blanco may I? se puede?

OK está bien FOOD my name is... me llamo... egg salad huevos a la rusa

I’m from... soy de... chicken broth caldo de galina sorry! disculpe! shrimp camarones excuse me/pardon perdón/con permiso sea bass corvina sorry, I don’t lo siento, no entiendo steak ternera understand do you speak habla inglés? sauteed beef with lomo saltado English? onions/potato

I don’t know no sé grilled meat parillada I would like... quisiera... meat/fish in red adobado sauce where is...? dónde está...? chicken in chile aji de galina sauce please speak more por favor, habla más lento chicken with rice arroz con pollo slowly come in! pase! french fries papas fritas how are you? cómo está/ cómo va? ice cream helado nice to meet you mucho gusto/ tanto gusto creme caramel flan what time is it? qué hora es? what a beautiful day! qué dia tan hermoso! how far is it to..? que distancia hay hasta...? NUMBERS what’s the name of.. cómo se llama...? one uno ? it’s beautiful es hermoso two dos today/yesterday hoy/ayer three tres tomorrow mañana four quatro day after tomorrow pasado mañana five cinco this morning esta mañana six seis this afternoon esta tarde seven siete this evening esta noche eight ocho do you have..? tienen...? nine nueve (shopping) how much is this? cuánto vale esto? ten diez that’s too much! I’ll es mucho! Le doy... give you.. that’s fine. I’ll take está bien. me lo llevo. it. just looking sólo estoy mirando the bill, please la cuenta, por favor (restaurants) Packing List

THE ESSENTIALS

Air tickets (or E-tickets) Passport One other picture ID, such as a driver's license Expense money

WT GEAR STORE

To help you prepare for your next WT adventure, we've put together a great collection of top brands including Patagonia, Outdoor Research, Eagle Creek, and more at our WT Gear Store (http://wildernesstravel.newheadings.com).

LUGGAGE

Soft-sided suitcase, with a small padlock (must be unlocked for air travel). Daypack, large enough for a jacket or rain gear, water bottle, camera, and other items you want on the trail. Note: Very few daypacks or fanny packs are waterproof and any items that you need to keep dry should be put in a waterproof stuff sack inside your pack. (Optional) Small roll-up bag to carry home purchases.

NOTES ON CLOTHING

Bring clothes you find most comfortable for walking. Although it will be warm enough for shorts on many days, bring some lightweight long pants for cooler weather and protection from tall grasses. Dressing in layers is the best way to stay comfortable. You’ll want a change of clothes for the evening, but nothing dressy is necessary. Casual wear is fine, and coats and ties are not required.

Note: In Europe, there are dress requirements to enter churches. Shorts (or skirts) should come to the knees, and shoulders should not be bare. Women can use a shawl or large scarf to cover bare shoulders; short-sleeved t-shirts are acceptable. The dress code applies to both men and women.

Please pack everything in one piece of luggage, as this simplifies transportation of luggage en route. Although airline service to Europe is generally reliable, it is best to wear or carry your hiking boots with you on your flights in the event that your luggage is lost or delayed. Likewise, don’t pack valuables, such as travel documents, camera gear, or prescription medicines in your checked luggage. CLOTHING

The clothing list below is provided as a guideline only. Lightweight rain gear, such as a Gore-Tex rain/wind shell jacket with hood Light fleece sweater or sweatshirt Long-sleeved shirt. Quick-drying “travel” fabrics like nylon are recommended. T-shirts or short-sleeved shirts Hiking pants. Lightweight cotton or synthetic hiking pants are a practical choice. Jeans are not recommended because they can be hot and they take a long time to dry if they get wet. Hiking shorts. Quick-drying fabrics are recommended. Shade hat with a wide brim–preferably a waterproof one you can use as a rain hat as well Sturdy walking shoes or lightweight hiking boots with Vibram-type rubber lug soles and good ankle support Tevas or running shoes for sightseeing in towns Hiking socks. Some people like thick Thorlo-type socks with padded toes/heels, or an outer sock and synthetic liner sock. Underwear/sleepwear. Synthetics dry faster. Casual city/hotel attire

EQUIPMENT

One or two reusable water bottles, 1 qt. capacity Good quality sunglasses with case. A spare pair of sunglasses is a good idea should your first pair be broken or lost. Toiletry kit Money belt or neck pouch. Always carry your passport, credit cards, and cash with you in a money belt or neck pouch tucked down inside your shirt or blouse.

PERSONAL FIRST AID SUPPLIES

Every trip member must bring a small kit for personal use. Your own experience will influence your choices. Sunscreen SPF 30 or higher and lip balm with sunscreen. We recommend mineral-based sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide because they do not contain harsh chemicals that are harmful to the environment. Brands such as Honest Company, Badger, and Alba Botanica are found in most sporting goods stores and drugstores. Aspirin, ibuprofen, or Tylenol for muscle pain or headaches, Tylenol PM for sleep Blister kit. Look for the long-lasting gel-type bandages that you can apply directly on blisters, such as Band-Aid Advanced Healing Bandages or Curad Gel Multi-Day Bandages. “Liquid band-aids,” such as New-Skin, are useful because they dry rapidly to form a tough protective cover over a blister. Prescription medications properly labeled Spare contact lenses or spare prescription glasses OPTIONAL ITEMS

Earplugs for the hotel nights in . Our hotel is right in front of the cathedral and main square. This location is great, but it is noisy very late into the night with activity as there are many college students in this city. Voltage converter and plug adaptor for appliance use in hotels Fleece jacket or nylon windbreaker Bathing suit for hotel pools (where available) Collapsible walking stick or trekking poles Camera, spare batteries, spare flashcards Fold-up umbrella Reading/writing material Lightweight binoculars Bandannas Travel clock Laundry soap for hand-washing clothes Washcloth, if you like to use one (most European hotels do not provide them) Reading List

ESSENTIAL READING

Travels with My Donkey The Pilgrim's Guide to Santiago de Compostela Tim Moore William Melczer 2006, 328 PAGES 1993, 350 PAGES In this wickedly comic account of grand adventures on the This is the original guide used by 12th-century pilgrims 500-mile pilgrimage to Santiago de Campostela with a along the sacred way, reprinted with an introduction by a French-speaking donkey, Moore salts his anecdotes of professor of Medieval Studies, plus endnotes and a fellow travelers and grand adventures with an account of gazetteer. the history and culture of the medieval Way of St. James.

The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago, The Complete Northern Spain Adventure Map Cultural Handbook National Geographic Maps Linda Kay Davidson 2011 2000, 440 PAGES A nicely detailed, overview map of the western (coastal) A kilometer-by-kilometer guide to the route of St. James part of Northern Spain and the Way of St. James at a scale across northern Spain with copious information on the of 1:500,000. Extends as far east as San Sebastian. One historical and artistic sites along the way. You probably Side. 33x49 inches. won't want it in your daypack, but in your suitcase it will be invaluable for previews of the following day and reflections on the preceding one.

ALSO RECOMMENDED

A Traveller's History of Spain Spain, A Traveler's Literary Companion Juan Lalaguna Peter R. Bush 2001, 304 PAGES 2003, 242 PAGES This survey of Spanish history features a useful A collection of 30 stories from a who's who of chronology, historical gazetteer and a long section on contemporary Spanish literature, including writers from contemporary life. It covers early settlements through the Galicia, Leon, the Basque Country, Madrid and Romans, Goths and Moors to the present. Barcelona.

The Sun Also Rises Birds of Europe Lars Svensson 1995, 256 PAGES 2010, 416 PAGES Hemingway's great novel, which encapsulates the angst of Featuring 3,500 glorious paintings by Killian Mullarney the post-WWI "Lost Generation," is the story of unmoored and Dan Zetterstrom, the second edition of this exquisite American and British expats travelling from to guide features updated text and maps. Pamplona. The Birds of the Iberian Peninsula The Way of St James, France: Le Puy to the Pyrenees Eduardo De Juana Alison Raju 2015, 688 PAGES 2013, 224 PAGES This definitive book on the birds of Iberia covers the status A practical guide to walking GR 65, the Via Podiensis, and distribution of each species in the region and also from Le Puy in central France to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port includes photos and introductory chapters on climate, in the Pyrenees. habitats and the history of Iberian ornithology.

The Basque History of the World Walking Mark Kurlansky Henry David Thoreau 2001, 288 PAGES 1994, 92 PAGES Kurlansky's engaging portrait of the seven provinces of Slip this pocket edition of Thoreau's meditations on the Basque lands takes in everything from language to culinary spiritual benefits of this most civilized form of travel in heritage, role in the Spanish Civil War and seafaring your daypack for inspiration. traditions.

The Road to Santiago Pilgrimage to the End of the World, The Road to Kathryn Harrison Santiago de Campostela 2003, 176 PAGES Conrad Rudolph The novelist's personal and meditative account of journeys 2004, 144 PAGES along the Route of St. James, from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in An engaging, literary account of 11 weeks of travels from France to Santiago de Compostela. Le Puy along the way of St. James, 1,000 miles all told.

Pyrenees, Andorra Adventure Map Santiago de Compostela Map National Geographic Society Freytag & Berndt 2011 2008 Covering the sweep of the Pyrenees from the Bay of A walking map of the city at a scale of 1:10,000. Biscay to the Mediterranean, Biarritz, Bilbao and Pamplona to Narbonne, Perpignan and Figueres.

A Pilgrim's Guide to the Eyewitness Guide Northern Spain John Brierley Eyewitness Guides 2016, 288 PAGES 2015, 268 PAGES With 52 maps and town plans, information on pilgrim A literate, visually rich guide to Northern Spain from hostels and other accommodations, practical advice and Galicia across Asturias and the Basque Country to La spiritual encouragement for the route from St. Jean Pied de Rioja to the Pyrenees. Port to Santiago de Campostela.

National Geographic Spain A Food Lover's Pilgrimage Along the Camino to Fiona Dunlop Santiago de Compostela 2012, 400 PAGES Dee Nolan Fiona Dunlop (New Tapas) provides expert advice in this 2015, 354 PAGES full-color guide, featuring color photography, maps, travel Dee Nolan follows the 1000-year-old Camino de Santiago tips, and a strong overview of history and culture. to seek out ancient food traditions and talk to cooks and farmers, discovering the importance of knowing where food comes from and finding herself along the way. Food and Wines of Spain The Finest Wines of Rioja and Northwest Spain, A Penelope Casas Regional Guide to the Best Producers and Their Wines 1982, 457 PAGES Jesus Barquin This classic collection of 400 recipes, interwoven with 2011, 320 PAGES cultural commentary and culinary history, is a pleasure to A detailed and informative guide to ancient and read, but prepare to become hungry. contemporary winemaking in Spain's most prominent wine region.

Pilgrimage: A Very Short Introduction The Camino, A Journey of the Spirit Ian Reader Shirley MacLaine 2015, 144 PAGES 2001, 320 PAGES A quick, authoritative survey of the pilgrimage: its history, The much-reincarnated, ever-brave entertainer treks 500- meaning and ongoing evolution. miles across Northern Spain on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Campostela, interweaving travelogue, commentary and journeys both actual and interior in this personal journal.

The Miracles of St. James, Translations from the Liber I'm Off Then, Losing and Finding Myself on the Sancti Jacobi Camino de Santiago Thoma Coffey Hape Kerkeling 1996, 169 PAGES 2009, 333 PAGES The English translation of a Medieval writings on the Overweight, overworked and unfit, Kerkeling turns an pilgrimage to Santiago, and the miracles of St. James, arduous trek across the French Pyrenees into a superb from the . opportunity to deploy his self-deprecating humor and barbed wit in this laugh-out-loud account of an unlikely pilgrim.

Off the Road, A Modern-Day Walk Down the Pilgrim's Paris to the Pyrenees Route Into Spain David Downie Jack Hitt 2014, 372 PAGES 2005 David Downie's spirited book is haunted by the Gallo- An American abroad, popular NPR contributor Hitt Roman forebears of modern France. On ancient trails unleashes his wit and wonder in this account of his trek, through the forests of the rugged Morvan, they continued 500-miles across Spain to Santiago de Compostela. across the celebrated wine country of Burgundy and the Naturally, he falls in with an odd assortment of fellow centuries-old Via Podiensis on the Way of Saint James. pilgrims, and adventures ensue.

Pilgrim Stories, On and Off the Road to Santiago Roads to Santiago, A Modern-Day Pilgrimage Through Nancy Louise Frey Spain 1998, 313 PAGES Cees Nooteboom The sights, sounds -- and meaning -- of modern journeys 2000, 352 PAGES along the "Camino de Santiago," according to interviews An exhilarating but erudite portrait of modern and historic with those who travel it. Spain. Nooteboom writes quite brilliantly of Spanish art, philosophy, history, architecture and culture, as well as of the people he encountered. Steps Out of Time The Song of Roland Katharine B. Soper Robert Harrison 2013, 286 PAGES 2012, 192 PAGES In her reflective memoir Soper recounts a secular The medieval French epic poem recalling the gory battle pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago, detailing the which took place in 778 (as 's rear guard was fascinating history and traditions of the ancient way along ambushed by Saracens) this text offers important insights with its breathtaking beauty, great food and extraordinary into Christian attitudes toward Muslims in medieval camaraderie. European history. Translated by Robert Harrison.

Revised: August 09, 2021